Despite winning the FA Cup and securing European football last season, the summer could potentially be a defining period for Crystal Palace and owner Steve Parish.

Current boss Oliver Glasner has already announced that he would depart Selhurst Park at the end of the season, with his contract set to expire after two and a half years at the helm.

The Austrian will undoubtedly forever be engraved in Eagles history after the FA Cup triumph, but it’s crucial the board identify the right man to take the club forward.

One of the main reasons behind his departure was due to his open criticism of the hierarchy for their decision to sell key players and failure to replace them.

However, the January window was a period in which the higher-ups put their money where their mouth is, subsequently spending a pretty penny on new arrivals.

The conflicting performances of Johnson and Strand Larsen

Upon the opening of the winter window, Palace secured the signature of winger Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur – forking out £35m for his services.

Such a price tag was a club-record, which has no doubt placed huge expectations on the Welsh international to deliver the goods in front of goal in South London.

However, the 24-year-old has failed to score in any of his first ten league games for the Eagles, with his only assist coming in the recent 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Despite Johnson’s winter arrival, the hierarchy once again broke their transfer record during the same window, subsequently forking out £44m for the signature of striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen.

The Norwegian international has been tasked with leading the line for Glasner’s side in recent weeks – a task that he’s already managed to live up to since arriving in January.

He’s already registered three goals and one assist across his first seven outings to date, with the former Wolves star already proving to be excellent value for money.

Palace star is now worth more than Strand Larsen

Alongside record-breaking transfers, Palace have also conducted shrewd business in the market, as seen with the £20m deal to land Adam Wharton in January 2024.

The midfielder has since made 81 senior appearances for the Eagles across all competitions, subsequently cementing himself as one of the club’s most important players.

The 22-year-old currently has five assists in the Premier League this season – the highest of any player in the squad – which has consolidated his place in the England national team.

As a result of his recent form, he’s been touted with countless big-money moves, which could see him become the latest player to leave Selhurst Park for a small fortune.

However, despite his recent form in England’s top-flight, he’s still not the most-valuable member of the squad, with attacker Yeremy Pino taking that spot at present.

The Spaniard, who joined from Villarreal for a reported £20m last summer, has already cemented his place within the starting eleven over the last couple of months.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder has already racked up 26 Premier League appearances to date, even registering three combined goals and assists during such a period.

He has also registered six goal contributions in other competitions, including the UEFA Conference League, helping the Eagles reach the last 16 of the tournament.

Pino’s underlying stats in England’s top-flight further showcase his talents, with many of which make him a key player within Glasner’s side throughout 2025/26.

He’s created 2.1 chances per 90 this season, with 0.5 of which being big chances – subsequently ranking him within the top 7% of all players in the division.

Other tallies, such as 43% dribbles completed and 1.9 shots per 90, further showcase his all-round quality in attacking areas, which has had an effect on his market value.

Pino is now valued at a staggering £61m by CIES Football Observatory, a figure which is already three times more than the fee paid for his signature in the summer.

The aforementioned valuation is also higher than Strand Larsen, who’s currently valued at just £41m despite his recent £44m January move to South London.

The Spaniard has certainly exceeded expectations at Selhurst Park since his arrival, with Pino just one example of the club’s impressive work in the transfer market.

His huge increase in value certainly bodes well for the club, with the hierarchy already completing a deal for a star who could once again leave for a pretty penny in the future.